The CCAT test (Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test) is a 15-minute, 50-question pre-employment aptitude test that measures verbal ability, math and logic, and spatial reasoning, with no calculator allowed. As of October 2026, Criteria says fewer than 1% of test takers answer all 50 questions, the average test taker gets 24 right, and employers see your raw score and your percentile, so the goal is steady accuracy, not finishing.
The facts below come from Criteria's own CCAT prep page for candidates and its CCAT information brief, both checked in October 2026. The preparation plan and examples are ours and labelled as such. Your invitation email is the final word on which test you are taking and when it's due.
What is on the CCAT test?
The CCAT mixes three kinds of questions in one timed block. Criteria describes the test as a measure of critical thinking, problem solving, learning ability and the ability to digest and apply new information, and says it is used for a broad range of mid- to high-level roles such as managers, sales executives, software developers, executive assistants and analysts.
| Area | What Criteria says it measures | Question styles you'll see |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal ability | Reading and comprehension of words, logic, constructive thinking and attention to detail | Word meanings, opposites, word relationships and choosing the right word for the context |
| Math and logic | Reasoning with numbers and numerical concepts, plus logic and analytical thinking | Short word problems, averages, percentages, ratios and number series |
| Spatial reasoning | Visualizing objects in space, making spatial judgments and solving problems | Odd-one-out shapes and visual pattern questions |
The format rules that matter most, as of October 2026:
- 50 questions, 15 minutes. Criteria's own wording is that you answer as many questions as you can in 15 minutes.
- No calculator. All math is mental or on scratch paper.
- No penalty for wrong answers. A guess can only help your raw score.
- Any device. Criteria calls the CCAT device-agnostic: phone, tablet, laptop or desktop.
- Different questions for everyone. The CCAT draws from a bank of thousands of items, so no two candidates get the exact same set.
How is the CCAT scored?
Your raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly, out of 50. Criteria turns it into a percentile, your standing against other test takers, and its score report also shows a separate percentile for spatial reasoning, verbal ability and math and logic. The employer sees these numbers; Criteria's prep page reminds candidates that the score is one factor among several in a hiring decision.
According to the information brief, the CCAT's normative sample of 106,740 adults has a median raw score of 24 and a standard deviation of 7. So a raw score of 24 sits near the 50th percentile, and every few extra correct answers moves you noticeably up the distribution.
What is a good CCAT score?
A good CCAT score is one that lands inside the range your employer uses for the role. There is no single passing score. Criteria publishes suggested score ranges by position, based on its national norms, and employers can also build their own ranges from their own applicants or employees. These are a few of the suggested ranges shown in Criteria's sample score report (October 2026 brief):
| Role family | Suggested raw score range |
|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | 17–50 |
| Retail Sales | 17–50 |
| Management | 20–50 |
| Software Development | 20–50 |
| Analyst | 22–50 |
| Engineering | 22–50 |
| Data Analytics and Statistics | 24–50 |
| Legal | 24–50 |
Read the table as a rough guide, not a target. Your employer may use a different cutoff, and many compare you with the other people who applied for the same opening. A practical aim for most professional roles is to beat the median of 24.
How to prepare for the CCAT test: a 5-day plan
The CCAT rewards speed with basic skills more than advanced knowledge. Fifteen minutes for 50 questions is 18 seconds a question on average, so practice should make easy questions automatic. This plan is ours; shorten it if your deadline is close.
- Day 1: Take a timed baseline. Criteria's practice tests page offers an aptitude practice test it describes as similar to the CCAT. It also says its practice tests are shortened, simulated versions, so treat the result as a baseline, not a prediction.
- Day 2: Mental math. Drill percentages, fractions, averages, ratios and simple rates without a calculator, in short timed sets.
- Day 3: Verbal speed. Practice opposites, analogies and sentence-completion questions. Learn to eliminate two choices fast instead of reading every option twice.
- Day 4: Spatial and patterns. Work through odd-one-out shapes and visual sequences. Name the rule out loud (rotation, count, shading) before you pick an answer.
- Day 5: Full timed run, then rest. Do one 15-minute mixed set under real conditions and review only what you missed.
An example we wrote
Question: Four sales reps averaged 15 deals each. Three of them closed 10, 14 and 21. How many did the fourth close? The fast route: 4 × 15 = 60, and 60 − 10 − 14 − 21 = 15. Practice setting up the total first; it turns most average questions into one subtraction.
Taking the CCAT: rules and setup
The CCAT is usually taken remotely and unsupervised, on your own schedule within the employer's deadline. Criteria says its testing engine logs your session in detail, including time spent, internet connectivity and actions within the assessment. Before you start:
- Pick a quiet 20-minute window with no notifications, and use a reliable connection.
- Have scratch paper and a pen ready, since there's no calculator.
- Read the instructions fully; Criteria recommends planning your strategy before the timer starts.
- If you need an accommodation, such as extra time, ask the employer before you begin.
Take the assessment yourself and follow the employer's rules — use CoPilot Interview to practice beforehand. CoPilot Interview doesn't simulate the CCAT. Use Criteria's practice tests for the test itself and CoPilot Interview for the interviews that usually come next.
What comes after the CCAT?
Most employers use the CCAT as an early screen, then move candidates in range to interviews. That's where spoken practice pays off. A free AI mock interview runs in your browser with nothing to install, and the CoPilot Interview desktop app (Windows 10+ and macOS 12+) builds a mock interview from your résumé and the job description, reads each question aloud, and scores your spoken answer out of 10 with what worked, what to fix and a model answer. The free plan includes Mock Interview with 15 minutes a day, and no account is needed.
For more context on where aptitude tests fit, see what an online assessment is, compare the CCAT with the Wonderlic test, or check your overall readiness with the interview readiness quiz.
Common CCAT mistakes
- Trying to finish. Almost nobody answers all 50. Rushing every question lowers accuracy on the ones you can get.
- Getting stuck on one hard question. Every question is worth the same, so a 90-second fight costs you several easy points.
- Leaving answers blank. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so pick your best guess.
- Practicing with a calculator. You won't have one on the test, so train without it.
- Testing in a noisy room. Fifteen minutes goes fast; one interruption can cost several questions.
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How many questions are on the CCAT test?
The CCAT has 50 questions and a 15-minute time limit, as of October 2026. Criteria says fewer than 1% of test takers answer all 50.
Can you use a calculator on the CCAT?
No. Criteria states that calculators are not allowed, so practice mental math and keep scratch paper nearby.
What is the average CCAT score?
Criteria says the average test taker answers 24 questions correctly, and its information brief lists a median raw score of 24 with a standard deviation of 7.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the CCAT?
No. Criteria says there is no penalty for wrong answers, so a guess is always better than a blank.
What is a passing score on the CCAT?
There is no universal passing score. Employers compare your raw score with a range for the role, either one of Criteria's suggested ranges, such as 20 to 50 for software development, or one they set themselves.
Can I take the CCAT on my phone?
Criteria describes the CCAT as device-agnostic, so you can take it on a phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. A larger screen makes spatial questions easier to read.
Does CoPilot Interview help with the CCAT?
Not directly. CoPilot Interview does not include CCAT-style questions. Take the test yourself, practice with Criteria's practice tests, and use CoPilot Interview to rehearse the interviews that follow.